Silver Creek kids will have more than dirt to play on come Oct. 15, thanks to $50,000 enhancement to their fundraising efforts.
Silver Creek School principal Joel Menzies welcomed Premier Christy Clark’s Sept. 2 promise of $8 million over two years to build or upgrade 44 school playgrounds across the province.
But he doesn’t know how or when the loot will roll in and does not believe provincial funding will be included in a partnership with Let Them Be Kids, a national organization that will match Silver Creek PAC fundraising on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
So, the playground committee will continue fund-raising with a revised goal of $44,000 to build primary and intermediate playground structures for use by the school and Silver Creek community.
“We’re all pretty excited and relieved. A lot of us were pretty overwhelmed with the task of raising another $36,000 over the next six weeks,” says committee member De Mitchell. “The only shadow is the group doesn’t know if the funds will be made available before the Oct. 15 build day.”
A Ministry of Education spokesperson said Monday that funding is expected to be delivered this fall.
The playground committee meanwhile, had originally hoped to raise $52,000 but agreed to a pared-down plan that set their fundraising goal $8,000 lower.
“We were hoping for more so we could get some gym and sports equipment,” Mitchell said, noting playground committee members are hoping Let Them Be Kids will match the provincial funding, as well as what they raise themselves.
Menzies, meanwhile, says thanks are owing to School District #83, who identified Silver Creek School as a priority to the province.
“Well-planned school playgrounds provide unique learning environments for our children and are an important part of their school experience,” says Education Minister and Shuswap MLA George Abbott. “They are an extension of the classroom and help promote fun and healthy activity for kids at school.”
And with that in mind, the Silver Creek Playground Committee will move full-steam ahead with their fundraising efforts.
Members will have a water-for-donation booth at fall fair and are hoping to better the $942 they raised at the recent Demolition Derby.
Those 19 and over are invited to a dance at the Silver Creek Hall Saturday, Sept. 17. This fun dance will feature raffles and a silent auction as well as delicious appetizers. Alcoholic beverages will be available. Tickets at $15 are available at the Silver Creek store and Wearabouts in town.
The committee will host another bottle drive on Saturday, Oct. 1.
There’s money to be won Saturday, Oct. 8 as bright yellow rubber duckies will “race” down the Salmon River. Anyone 19 years of age and older is invited to “buy” a duck for the race at $20 each.
The winning duck will fetch $1,000, while second place will earn $500 and third place $250.